Sandra M. Petrillo was awarded a Master’s Degree in Art History from the University La Sapienza of Rome and in 1995 a Master’s Degree in Art Conservation, specialising in Photography, from the conservation department (IFROA) of the Institut National du Patrimoine (INP) of Paris.
She has been working as a professional conservator in private practices since 1996, initially for the l’Atelier de Restauration et Conservation des Photographies (ARCP) in Paris, then in Italy and in the Grand-duchy of Luxembourg. More recently in San Francisco, California, where along with photographic conservation, she also worked for private collectors creating customised databases for their collection management.
In 2009 she established a private practice in Italy, SMP, that offers consultation and conservation services for the preservation of photographic heritage. Her clients include private collectors and public institutions from a variety of countries.
Along with her professional activity, Sandra Petrillo studies historic photographic materials and organises seminars, workshop and delivers lectures to students, restorers, collectors and curators.
She has a number of publications to her name including: “Papier albuminé mat” in the Vocabulaire technique de la photographie (Paris, Marval, 2008) and a recent essay “Conservazione e restauro dei materiali fotografici” (XXI Secolo, in Gli spazi e le arti, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Rome, 2010) which offers a wide-ranging, contemporary reflection on this discipline.
In 2010 she delivered a presentation on a recent project executed for the Centre national de l’audiovisuel at the interim meeting of the Photographic Material Group, PMG-ICOM CC held in Athens: Edward Steichen’s The Bitter Years Exhibition. A Project of Many Dimensions. In 2012 the 208 prints from this historical exhibition will have a permanent exhibition space in the Chateau d’eau of Dudelange.
Sandra M. Petrillo is a professional member of the American Institute of Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and abides to its Code of Ethics. She is also a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM CC) and of Associazione Restauratori Italiani (ARI).
She provides opportunities for Italian and foreign students to undertake training. She also collaborates with a number of higher education institutions to provide advice to students undertaking their final thesis.